Organization teams up with Ohio University Therapy Associates to bring books to children

ATHENS, Ohio (June 6, 2006) -- Children undergoing speech and language therapy at Ohio University Therapy Associates are receiving books as part of a $750 grant to the clinic from a nonprofit organization whose mission is putting books into the hands of children from low-income families.

The national organization, First Book, has distributed more than 40 million books to children around the country.

Using books purchased from the grant, Pam Reese, a clinical supervisor at the facility housed in Grover Center, developed a program called Book Talk to help the children reach their speech and language goals.

Graduate student clinicians in the School of Hearing, Speech and Language Sciences developed plans using each book, and then employed the plans in therapy sessions. The sessions often involve having the children sound out words or describe pictures that appear in the stories. At the conclusion of the lessons, the children get to put their name in the books and keep them.

"We've seen smiles and excitement as the children receive their new books. One child showed his new book to all the college students in the Grover Center Atrium as he left the building," Reese said.

The Book Talk program at the clinic has distributed 78 books so far, and will continue for the remainder of 2006, Reese said. More than 250 books will be distributed to children up to age 7.

[ 30 ]

Media Contact: Clinical Supervisor for Ohio University Therapy Associates Pam Reese, (740) 597-1823 or reesep@ohio.edu, or Director of Communication for the College of Health and Human Services Jody Grenert, (740) 593-1433 or grenert@ohio.edu